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LPI · Linux & Systems · Professional

LPI LPIC-2 Linux Engineer exam guide

Exam 201-450 and 202-450 (v4.5)

LPIC-2 validates advanced Linux administration of small to medium mixed networks: kernel, storage, networking, DNS, web, file sharing, email and security. It requires an active LPIC-1 and passing exams 201-450 and 202-450 (version 4.5).

Questions60 per exam
Time limit90 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam feeSee official page
Valid for5 years
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or OnVUE online proctored

Format: Multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank. Fee note: LPI uses country-based pricing tiers: $200/$165/$132 USD per exam; confirm your country's price on lpi.org.

Who it's for

Experienced Linux administrators who manage servers and network services.

What the exam covers

201: Capacity Planning—
201: Linux Kernel—
201: System Startup—
201: Filesystem and Devices—
201: Advanced Storage Device Administration—
201: Networking Configuration—
201: System Maintenance—
202: Domain Name Server—
202: Web Services—
202: File Sharing—
202: Network Client Management—
202: E-Mail Services—
202: System Security—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: Active LPIC-1 certification; pass both 201 and 202.

Recommended: Several years of Linux administration experience.

Keeping it active

Active for 5 years. Recertify by retaking LPIC-2 or earning a higher-level LPI certification (LPIC-3).

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Kernel compilation and module management
  • RAID, LVM and advanced storage
  • BIND DNS configuration
  • Apache/Nginx web services
  • Samba and NFS file sharing
  • Postfix email and Dovecot
  • Firewall, SSH and OpenVPN security

Job roles

Senior Linux AdministratorLinux EngineerInfrastructure EngineerNetwork Services AdministratorSystems Engineer

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1-2: 201 - capacity planning, kernel, system startup
  2. Week 3-4: 201 - filesystems, RAID/LVM, network configuration, maintenance; take exam 201
  3. Week 5-6: 202 - DNS (BIND), web services, file sharing (Samba/NFS)
  4. Week 7-8: 202 - DHCP/LDAP/PAM, email, security; take exam 202

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Build each service (BIND, Apache, Samba, Postfix) in a lab - config file directives are tested
  • Know key config file paths and directive names exactly
  • Keep LPIC-1 active; LPIC-2 requires it
  • Older topics (e.g. Squid, OpenLDAP clients) still appear - follow the official objectives

Key terms for this exam

All 11 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

What are the LPIC-2 prerequisites?

An active LPIC-1.

How many exams for LPIC-2?

Two: 201-450 and 202-450.

How much is LPIC-2?

LPI tier pricing is $200, $165 or $132 USD per exam depending on country.

Is LPIC-2 still relevant?

Yes for traditional Linux server roles; cloud-native roles often pair it with Kubernetes certs.

How long is it valid?

Five years active.

Official page: www.lpi.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.